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Post 9/11, Highest Military Honor Grows Scarce

The highest military award has gone to only five—and all posthumously

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 26, 2009 12:40 PM CDT

(Newser) – The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have produced only five recipients of the Medal of Honor, all of whom died as a result of their heroism, the Military Times reports. Pentagon stinginess with the highest military honor in the post-9/11 era frustrates service members who say a politicized, stringent, and lengthy review process has denied recognition to some who deserve it.

In the previous century, around two to three Medals of Honor were awarded per 100,000 servicemen. That has dropped to literally one in a million. Some credit the nature of this decade’s wars—“It’s hard to be a hero against an IED,” said a retired Army officer.  But others point to exceptionally narrow criteria and a review process quick to deny awards proposed for non-military reasons. "They decided that the Medal of Honor should go not only to people who are brave, but pure,” said one former Marine.

Medal Of Honor Ribbon and, from left to right, the Army, Navy, and Air Force medals are shown in this photo from the US Military.
Medal Of Honor Ribbon and, from left to right, the Army, Navy, and Air Force medals are shown in this photo from the US Military.   (Wikimedia Commons/US Military)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 5 comments
oldgoat
Mar 27, 2009 8:42 AM CDT
The MOH shouldn't be very easy to earn. It is meant to be the hardest one for a reason. I do agree that with the type of war we are fighting now it probably will reduce the ones that recieve it, but then again it will make the ones that are awarded it even more worthy and special.
northeast
Mar 27, 2009 2:12 AM CDT
They used to do that back in the Civil War when it was established....the reason the Medal of Honor means so much today is because almost nobody gets them.
Fondue
Mar 26, 2009 8:49 AM CDT
Aw poopy. Turn that frown upside down.

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